Criminal Law Solicitor Salary in West Sussex 2026
Salary benchmarks for criminal law solicitors in West Sussex, from newly qualified (NQ) through to 8+ PQE, broken down by firm size. Includes paralegal, legal secretary and fee earner ranges. Data is based on market benchmarking across 17 regulated firms in the area.
View Criminal Law firms and jobs in West Sussex→Qualified Solicitor Salaries
Annual salary ranges for criminal law solicitors in West Sussex by experience level and firm type. Mid-point figures shown; hover or expand for full range.
| Experience | High Street / Boutique | Regional / Mid-size | City / National | In-house |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newly qualified (0-1 PQE) | £37,500 £30,000–£45,000 | £40,000 £33,500–£48,500 | £57,500 £46,500–£72,500 | £47,000 £40,000–£58,000 |
| 2-3 PQE | £43,000 £34,000–£51,500 | £46,500 £38,500–£56,000 | £65,000 £52,000–£83,500 | £54,500 £45,500–£67,000 |
| 4-5 PQE | £50,000 £39,500–£60,500 | £54,000 £44,000–£65,000 | £76,000 £59,500–£100,500 | £63,500 £51,000–£80,000 |
| 6-8 PQE | £59,000 £45,000–£73,500 | £63,500 £50,000–£78,500 | £91,000 £69,500–£120,500 | £74,500 £58,000–£95,000 |
| 8+ PQE | £66,500 £51,500–£87,500 | £75,000 £58,500–£98,500 | £109,500 £81,500–£148,500 | £89,000 £68,000–£118,000 |
Figures are regional estimates for guidance only. Actual salaries vary by firm, candidate profile, and negotiation.
Salary by Firm Size
How criminal law solicitor pay varies across firm types in West Sussex. NQ salaries shown; the premium for larger firms widens with seniority.
High Street / Boutique
£37,500
NQ (typical)
Range: £30,000–£45,000
8+ PQE: up to £87,500
Regional / Mid-size
£40,000
NQ (typical)
Range: £33,500–£48,500
8+ PQE: up to £98,500
City / National
£57,500
NQ (typical)
Range: £46,500–£72,500
8+ PQE: up to £148,500
In-house
£47,000
NQ (typical)
Range: £40,000–£58,000
8+ PQE: up to £118,000
Non-qualified Roles
Salary benchmarks for support and fee-earning roles in West Sussex criminal law teams. Figures use a mid-size firm baseline.
Paralegal
| Experience | High Street / Boutique | Regional / Mid-size | City / National | In-house |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | £26,500 £25,000–£28,500 | £28,000 £26,000–£30,500 | £30,500 £28,000–£34,500 | £29,000 £26,500–£32,500 |
| 1-3 years | £28,000 £26,000–£30,500 | £30,000 £27,500–£33,500 | £34,000 £30,500–£38,500 | £31,500 £28,500–£35,500 |
| 3-5 years | £30,000 £27,500–£33,000 | £32,500 £29,500–£36,500 | £37,000 £33,000–£43,000 | £34,500 £30,500–£39,000 |
| 5+ years | £32,500 £29,500–£36,500 | £35,500 £31,500–£41,000 | £41,000 £36,000–£49,000 | £38,000 £33,500–£45,000 |
Legal Secretary / PA
| Experience | High Street / Boutique | Regional / Mid-size | City / National | In-house |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | £25,000 £24,000–£26,500 | £26,500 £25,000–£28,500 | £30,000 £27,500–£33,500 | £28,000 £26,000–£30,500 |
| 1-3 years | £26,000 £24,500–£27,500 | £28,000 £26,000–£30,500 | £32,500 £29,500–£37,000 | £30,000 £27,500–£33,500 |
| 3-5 years | £27,000 £25,000–£29,000 | £30,000 £27,500–£32,500 | £35,500 £31,500–£40,000 | £32,500 £29,500–£36,500 |
| 5+ years | £29,000 £26,500–£32,500 | £32,000 £29,000–£36,500 | £38,000 £33,500–£45,000 | £35,500 £31,500–£41,000 |
Fee Earner / Legal Executive
| Experience | High Street / Boutique | Regional / Mid-size | City / National | In-house |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | £25,000 £23,500–£27,500 | £27,500 £25,000–£31,000 | £35,000 £30,500–£40,000 | £31,500 £28,000–£36,500 |
| 1-3 years | £26,500 £24,500–£29,500 | £30,000 £26,500–£33,500 | £39,000 £34,000–£45,500 | £35,500 £31,000–£41,000 |
| 3-5 years | £30,000 £26,500–£33,500 | £33,500 £29,000–£38,500 | £44,000 £37,000–£52,500 | £39,000 £33,500–£46,000 |
| 5+ years | £33,500 £29,000–£39,000 | £37,500 £31,500–£46,000 | £50,000 £42,000–£61,500 | £44,500 £37,000–£54,500 |
Criminal Law Firms in West Sussex
Regulated criminal law firms in West Sussex on the SRA register. Salaries above reflect the market across these firms.
Bishop & Light Solicitors Limited
Also known as Bishop & Light Incorporating Hunters
Worthing
Boots Starke Goacher
Crawley
Cheesemans Solicitors
Worthing
David Street & Company
Crawley
Finlay Solicitors
Littlehampton
Geoff White Solicitors
Crawley
Gray Hooper Holt LLP
Haywards Heath
Mjr Solicitors Limited
Bognor Regis
Monan Gozzett LLP
Arundel
Pbip Solicitors Limited
Also known as Palmer Biggs Ip, Solicitors
Gatwick
Poole Alcock LLP
Chichester
Sussex Defence Solicitors
Worthing
Taylor Rose Limited
Also known as Breeze & Wyles, McMillan Williams Solicitors, Mw Solicitors, Taylor Rose Mw
Worthing
Tildens Limited
Littlehampton
Toby Brothers Legal
Littlehampton
Showing 15 of 17 firms. See all firms in West Sussex
Check your own salary
Use LawBoard's free salary benchmark to get a personalised benchmark for your role, experience level, and location. Create a profile to save your result and track target firms.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the salary for a newly qualified criminal law solicitor in West Sussex?
Newly qualified criminal law solicitors in West Sussex typically earn between £30,000 and £72,500 depending on firm size, with boutique and high street firms around £37,500, mid-size firms around £40,000 and City or national firms around £57,500.
What does a criminal law solicitor earn at 4 to 5 PQE in West Sussex?
At 4 to 5 PQE, criminal law solicitors in West Sussex typically earn between £39,500 and £100,500 depending on firm size, with boutique firms around £50,000, mid-size around £54,000 and City or national firms around £76,000.
How does firm size affect criminal law solicitor salaries in West Sussex?
Firm size has a significant impact on salary. At NQ level in West Sussex, a high street or boutique firm typically pays around £37,500, while a City or national firm may pay £57,500 or more. The premium widens at senior levels, where large firms can pay substantially above regional norms.
What is the salary for a paralegal in West Sussex in 2026?
Entry-level paralegals in West Sussex typically earn between £25,000 and £30,500 depending on firm size, with boutique firms around £26,500 and mid-size firms around £28,000. With 5 or more years of experience, the range rises to £29,500 to £41,000, with boutique firms around £32,500 and mid-size around £35,500, based on 2026 benchmarking data.
Where does LawBoard salary data come from?
LawBoard salary benchmarks are derived from market data covering law firms registered with the Solicitors Regulation Authority. Figures are adjusted for region and practice area using established market multipliers. They represent typical ranges for guidance only and are updated periodically.
Related Pages
Firm data sourced from the Solicitors Regulation Authority register. Salary benchmarks are regional estimates for guidance only and are not specific to any individual firm. Recruitment support available via RecQuest.